Press Releases, 21/03/2014 | Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Finland supports Red Cross assistance work in Ukraine

Press release 66/2014
21 March 2014

Finland will support the assistance mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Ukraine with EUR 500,000. Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto took a decision on the matter on 21 March.

The purpose of the assistance is to strengthen the Ukrainian Red Cross in such a manner that it will be better equipped to meet the local needs for assistance, such as provision of first aid and psychosocial support to people. The goal is to respond to both the existing and possible future humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Ukraine.

“Finland trusts the work performed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and has been supporting it on a regular basis. That is the reason why wanted to give a positive response to the ICRC appeal for assistance concerning Ukraine,” commented Minister for International Development Pekka Haavisto.

The aid will be taken from Finland’s appropriations for humanitarian assistance, included in this year’s development co-operation budget, and it will be administered through the Finnish Red Cross.